Rewriting the War (Duryodhan)

Chapter 13 - The Fourth?

From the banks of Yamuna, it was to take us three days and three nights to reach Kamyaka Forest, and we were currently on the last night of travel.

The days that had passed were rather unbecoming as conversations were subsided, even between the brothers. They, not that I blame them, were still struggling to come to terms with the existence of an unknown elder brother and their mother's years of silence regarding it.

As for me, I was left on my own, most of the time, and chose to beat the time by mulling over my life.

If it got too tiring to go over everything, my thoughts drifted to my short time spent at the Palace of Hastinapur. It offered some respite, giving my brain a much-needed break.

Not that I missed the palace life much; after all, I have only been there for a week or so.

But somehow I did miss Duryodhan's presence. It was rather confusing to feel numb without hearing his voice.

Though his actions have always had the penchant to make me feel confused and my whole being to hold my breath in awe, I perhaps had taken my own feelings a little too brazenly, thinking it to be a case of slight infatuation.

With clarity I lacked then, I knew I had to proceed with more caution. Falling in love was one thing; affording to do so, was another and as of my fate, both weren't viable options to commit.

"We have reached." Arjun said, his voice was scratchy after hours of travel.

I gave out a sigh of relief. The ache came to an end. Both for me as well as for Darsa, my horse.

The trees towered to heights in front of us, and the dark gave it its mysterious allure. The particular forest was known for its mythical beings and renowned Rishis, and I was afraid to face both.
Especially under the darkened cover.

As if the Devas had heard my fear and blessed it to turn it into reality, something or someone moved swiftly inside the creepy forest.

Yudhishthir immediately halted proceeding further. The creature moved towards us, and when it neared, I could tell its silhouette.

Fortunately or unfortunately, it turned out to be a saint.

We got down from our horses and bowed in customary respect.

"Live a long life filled with happiness along with your family." The sage blessed us.

"I don't want to drag the conversation at night. Mind if I borrow the lady for a chat?" He pointedly looked at me with gentle eyes and I mentally prepared myself for the worst.

Moving closer to him, I took in his appearance. He was clean, his hair smooth and not matted. Even his clothes had no speck of dirt.

"The news has travelled, and I empathise with you for shouldering the heavy task." I listened diligently to his words, knowing whatever it was, it was of much importance.

"And I carry a message from the higher beings." He said, furrowing his eyes in seriousness.

"Since you have hastened the changes, the events that are set to occur are also to arrive earlier than before." I nodded, noting the need to be constantly on the lookout for Draupadi's swayamvar.

"Mainly, they want you to be aware of the things that you are alternating. As of now, you have altered four events." He looked expectantly at me to state them.

"Kunti is not accompanying the Pandavas." I held out my pinky to count.

"Because of it, Draupadi won't marry the five of them; does it count as my second?" He shook his head.

"No. It still hasn't occurred, and even then, you can still make her wed them all if you want."

"No. I don't think I will."

"Then, it is a change that would occur in the future. You still have three more."

"I hastened the Lakshagriha incident?" I raised my claim.

"Yes."

"Instead of the Nishada tribe members dying, six people from the village of Varnavata died." I racked the depths of my head to answer.

"Ah! The most important of the four. Don't you think it would have raised suspicions among the villagers that perhaps the dead ones were their kin?" His demeanour told him that he was eager to hear the reply.

"Even if they have, they cannot prove it, as the bodies have burned. In case, they take it to the court. Vidura would be quick to conclude it because he wouldn't want Duryodhan to get any ideas of Pandavas still being alive." I paused, wondering whether I was on the right track.

"And as for the King, he wouldn't want the public's attention to be on this matter. He would also be quick to dismiss it, but I fear he would investigate it privately with the aid of spies."

"Hmm. That sounds plausible." He offered me a small smile.

"Do you think you can evade if he sends spies?"

"I think so but of course that's only possible after I befriend Hidimbi."

"Sounds like you have a lot on the platter, but sleep should be the foremost." He indulgently joked before ending our conversation.

"I will take your leave, Devi."

"Wait." He wasn't going to leave until he said his name.

"What is your name?" I politely asked as another question made its way into my mind.

"I am the son of Manasvini, Markandeya." He humbly replied and my eyes grew comically wide upon realising who I had just met.

"Can I ask you something?"

"You just did." He chuckled sweetly before responding.

"Yes, you may."

"What is the fourth?"

Markandeya grinned, obviously amused at me and my oblivious state to what I had committed in the past.

"While the rest are changes the are going to affect the world, this one is going to affect you." He was speaking in riddles.

I bit my tongue to prevent myself from asking him whether he had spent the afternoon with Krishna.

"In simple terms, please?" I requested, hoping for an explanation.

"No direct answer for it. You may have to ask your heart to solve." He said with finality in his tone and something in my stomach flipped.

"And to answer your other query, I did meet Lord Krishna recently." With that, he went back into the shady forest.